Panel unit for radiant heating



Oct. 14, 1952 A. BYRNIE PANEL UNIT FOR RADIANT HEATING Filed Sept. 12, 1949 INVENTOR.

L E0 A. BYRN/E I Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2,613,900 V I I PANEL'IIUNVIIT FOR RADIANT HEATING I Leo A, Byrnie, Torrington, Conn. Application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,195, I

more particularly to a prefabricated unit having a. plurality of loops of tubing supported in elongated brackets.

One object of this invention is to i provide a flat panel unit of the above nature which is very thin and may be completely concealedin a layer of plaster or cement without requiring that said layer be of excessive thickness;

Another object is to provide a unit'of the above nature in which the brackets may be readily adjusted longitudinallyof the panel while rigidly maintaining the spacing of the loops oftubing whereby said brackets may be aligned with the joists to which they are secured without blocking," and the installation thereof will be. facilitated. v

7 Anotherobject is to provide a unit of the above nature in which the brackets and the tubing are connected by means of an improved joint structure which has a thickness very little greater than the diameter of the tubing, and which has ample strength to prevent deformation of the unit.

Another object is to provide a .unit' of the above nature which, due to the high heat conduction afforded-thereby, will make possible the use of tubing of a smaller diameter than has heretofore been practical.

A further object is to provide a panel unit 0 3 Claims. (01. 248-68) the above nature which will withstand handling I during storage and shipment, which will be light I in weight, simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and manipulate, and very efficient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

. In the drawing,

' Fig. l is a perspective view showing one of the improved radiant heating panel units as it would appear when installed in a ceiling, prior to'the Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. '3, but showing notch 25 adapted to receive the tubing II.

- 2 g the clip fully assembled with the bracket, and

showing the tubing in broken lines.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the'assembled parts inverted from the position shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral H1 in- .dicates a panel unit comprising a length of tubing II which is looped in zig-zag fashion so as to provide a plurality of substantially equal parallel runs 12 having U-bends l3 at their ends. The tubing l I terminates in opposite endsl4, [5, which are disposed in alignment with the ends of the straight runs I2 adjacent one edge .or U -bendsconnected to the ends l4, 15.

f In order to holdthe tubing runs H2 in parallel relationship, provision is made of a plurality of elongated brackets 18, which are approximately parallel to each other and disposed at right,

angles to the runs [2. The elongated brackets l8, are preferably constructed of sheet me tal'of right angular cross section, so that each of said brackets comprises a fiat base flange I9 and a depending flange or cleat '20. The side flange 20 is cut at predetermined intervals equal to the spacing of the tubing runs 12, thus providing 'U-shaped notches 2| which extend for the full depth of said flange 20, and in which the runs [2 are disposed so as to engage against the inner surface of the base flange [9.

In order to retain each of the tubing runs l2 securely in the respective notches 2|, provision is made of a plurality of sheet metal clips 22,

which, prior to assembly, are of right angular form as shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the clips 22 initially comprises a flat clamping flange 23 and a transverse flange 25 which is provided centrally with a U-shaped Both the notches 2| and the notches 25 are preferably of such a width as to receive the tubing II with a snug fit without substantial binding at the sides thereof. At points spaced from opposite sidesof the notch 25, the flange 24 is provided with separate slots 25 (Fig. 3) which are adapted to receive a pair of lugs 2'! struck outwardly from the material of the side flange 2B of thebracket I3 ness of the unit It. plied, it will surround the tubing I I and will also In securing the tubing I l to the bracket I8, the clip 22 will be slid toward said bracket from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus causing the lugs 21 to enter the slots 26. The lugs 21 will then be bent upwardly as viewed in Fig. 4, securing the clip 22 firmly against the outer face of the side flange 20.

The clamping flange 23 of the clip 22 will also be bent upwardly against the side flange 20 at each side of the tubing I I, as indicated in Fig. 4, to cause the clip 22 to firmly embrace the bracket I8 at both sides of the notch 2 I. In assembly, the operation of attaching the clips 22 to the bracket I8 may be very readily accomplished inasmuch as both the lugs 21 and the clamping flange 23 may be bent in a single operation by striking them in the same direction with a suitable tool, not shown.

It will be noted, however, that a central portion of the clamping flange 23 will not be bent into engagement with the inner surface of the side flangeZU, due to'the presence of the tubing I2. The clamping flange 23 thus comprises a curved central cradle portion 28 firmly embracing a portion of the periphery of the tubing II 'and'olosing the 'notch 2| so as to reinforce the bracket l8.

To facilitate the installation of the panel unit III, the base flanges I9 of the brackets I8 are provided with a series of apertures 29 through which nails may be driven into the joists J.

, Further, the side flange 20 is provided with a series of large circular-apertures 30 into which plaster will flow when applied to the unit in its installed position, thus providing plaster cleats.

Installation panel unit I secured beneath a ceiling joist J by means of a nail N driven into said joist through one of the apertures 29 in the elongated bracket I8.

, The unit I0 will preferably be applied beneath the metal lath L, which will have been previously secured to the joist J. It will be understood that the lath L, may, if desired, be alternatively attached below said unit. Inasmuch as the base flange I9 is quite thin, the operation of driving the nail N will compress the lath L sufiiciently behind the bracket I8 to bring the upper surface of the tubing I I into substantially uniform engagement with the lower surface of said lath.

Thus, in applying the plaster P, the required thickness of the plaster layer will be very little more than the diameter of the tubing II, inasmuch as the only part of the panel I0 which projects below the tubing I I is the relatively thin cradle portion 28 of the clip 22. It has been found that when the clips 22 are made of .024" sheet brass, said clips will be sufiiciently strong. while contributing very little to the total thick- When the plaster P is apenter the apertures 30 so as to become firmly interlocked with the unit I0.

j In spite of the fact that the total thickness of thejoint between the tubing I .I and the elongated bracket I8 is only slightly greater than the diameter of the tubing itself, it has been found that the bridging action of the clip 22 across the notch 2| so reinforces said joint that 4 there is practically no likelihood of buckling in the unit I0 during shipment or installation, and the brackets I8 are sufliciently rigid to permit them to be installed either at right angles or parallel to the joists J.

It has also been found that when the brackets I8 are assembled with hard copper tubing, the rigidity of the panel unit It will be such that'the tubing may be of a reduced diameter and the unit will be held flat, thus avoiding the danger that air pockets will develop in the 'panel after the heating system is put into operation. Also, the use of small diameter tubing will result in a panel which has a minimum overall depth, and which is very light in weight.

If it is found that the brackets l8 are not properly aligned-with the joists J when the panel I0 is in its intended position, said brackets I8 I installed, whereby maximum heat conduction may be obtained and tubing of small diameter may be employed.

While there has been disclosed inthis specification one form in which the invention may be embodied. it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to beI-l'imited to the specific disclosure, but maybe modilied nd embodied in various other forms .without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the follow,- ing claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a panel unit for radiant heating, a plurality of elongated spaced brackets each having aside flange provided with a series of notches, a length of tubing comprising a plurality of runs disposed in said notches, and. a plurality of U- shaped clips secured to said brackets by lugs struck out from said side flanges adjacent opposite sides of said notches, said clips embracing the edges of the side flanges of said brackets and bridging said notches for retaining the tubing therein and reinforcing said brackets.

2. In a device for supporting a length of tubing, a bracket comprising a base flange and a side flange disposed in angular relationship, said side flange having a notch for receiving said tubing, and a clip of U-shaped cross section embracing the free edge-of said side flange and abutting the opposite surfaces thereof in bridging relationship to said notch and secured to said bracket for retaining the tubing therein, wherein said clip comprises an apertured transverse flange disposed fiatwise a ainst one surface of saidside flange, said side flange having integral lugs engaged through the apertures in said transverse flange for securing said clip to said bracket,

3. In a device for supporting a len t of t ing, a bracket comprising a base flange and. a side flange disposed in angular relationship, said side and in wmhg the tubing is disposed, a, clip embracing tilieijree edge or said side flange at opposite sides 'oij the notch therein and comprising a transverse flange provided with a notch embracing ?ai" tubing, means for securing said transverse face of 5921 (ie flange, said clip also comprising a clampin flange engaging the inner surface of said side? flaliige adjacent opposite sides of the I notch therein, and having a central cradle pornnmnnncns cr'rnn "The following references are of record in'the me of this patent:

tion engage clf'over an outer surface portion of the I tubing in opposition to the base flange of said I bracket.

LEO A. BYRNIE.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,649,542 Parks Nov. 15, 1927 1,904,330 Rufi Apr. 18, 1933 v 2,231,462 Cobb Feb. 11, 1941 2,427,336 Askin Sept. 16, 1947 

